Superintendent

Steven L. Cook, Superintendent

Improving our Schools for the 21st Century

The Summer of 2019 has brought about many new and exciting improvements to Haslett Public Schools. Phase I of our 2018 Bond Construction Plan is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of the new school year. These improvements would not be possible without the continued support of our Board of Education, staff, and community.

Athletic updates at the secondary buildings include new tennis courts, concession stands, team rooms, multi-use turf surface at Jamie Gent Stadium, along with resurfacing the track and field. These improvements will ensure our student athletes are safe and competitive as they strive to achieve excellence.

Parking lot redesign and paving improvements at Murphy, Ralya, and Haslett Middle School will greatly improve safety and the traffic flow at each location. These newly designed traffic patterns will create separate drop-off and pick-up areas for buses and parents. Building principals will be communicating specific instructions to families prior to the beginning of the new school year. Information will also be shared during student registration, building open houses, and on the district website.

Safety and Security continues to be a priority for Haslett Public Schools. We have been collaborating with our partners at the Meridian Township Police Department to update and improve our current District Crisis Response Plans. These updates are a result of researched-based strategies designed to ensure we are using “best practices” in implementing our safety plans. Main entrance buzzer systems and other security procedures implemented at the beginning of the last school year have received positive feedback from our staff and community. Your support is appreciated as we strive to keep our students and staff safe.

Highlights of additional plans for the upcoming school year include:

Completing the final design phase of K-12 classroom renovations (new furniture, technology, and other upgrades) to further prepare us for 21st century learning. All buildings will be holding a furniture fair during their open houses to showcase available classroom furniture options.

Continuing our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support programs, which are designed to increase student assessment scores in all core academic areas.

Entering into a partnership with the Capital Area District Library to provide a digital library card for all students and staff.

Continuing to utilize our “Be Nice” and Youth Mental Health First Aid programs to promote a safe school environment for ALL students.

Thank you for your continued support of Haslett Public Schools. Feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to another successful school year.

Safety and Security - A Priority

Haslett Public Schools wishes to thank the Board of Education, our school community and staff for supporting the Bond Proposal and the Site Sinking Fund renewal on the August 7, 2018 ballot. This financial support will enable the district to increase security and safety in our buildings, create classrooms for the 21st century and improve our extra-curricular learning spaces. The success Haslett Public Schools has enjoyed would not be possible without this support. It is our goal to continue to provide an A+ learning community that promotes excellence for all students.

As we begin this year, we want you to be aware of two changes the district has made. We believe both of these changes are positive and will be of benefit to our students. We have changed our security procedures to ensure the safety of students and staff, and the school calendar has been expanded to include additional no-school days.

Safety and Security

Beginning the first day of school, all school building doors will be locked during instructional hours. Access will be made available at the main entrances ONLY. These entrances will be locked at a predetermined timed (based on the needs of each school) each morning. Parents, visitors and vendors needing to enter the school buildings throughout the instructional day will be required to follow an established protocol using a video intercom system. Visitors to our buildings will also be required to sign in and wear identification badges. Please refer to the safety article on page 3 of this Blackboard for more specific information.

School Calendar

Our school calendar for 2018-19 has been extended by three days. The last day of school for students will be Wednesday, June 12, 2019. By extending the school year, we are able to add additional days off for students and families. The calendar includes two four-day weekends, an autumn break (October 12–15) and a mid-winter break (February 15–18).

The calendar will continue to include the release of our students for two weeks in late December and early January, as well as the first week in April. We will also NOT hold school on November 6 (Election Day). This day was added for security reasons, as Meridian Township uses Haslett High School, Haslett Middle School and Murphy Elementary School for polling.

In addition to the changes outlined above, below are highlights of some of our plans for the upcoming school year:

Enhancing our safety and security measures to include updating our District Crisis Plan, in collaboration with Meridian Township Police, installing a key card digital door-monitoring system and developing long-term “safety” plans for the district

Moving into the design phase of the 2018 Bond Proposal, which will involve soliciting further input from staff and the community, as we look forward to construction beginning in the spring of 2019

Implementing a mobile application for our website, allowing the district to notify and communicate with parents and students more efficiently, as well as provide easy access to school information, such as building events and the school calendar

Continuing to promote the well-being of students and staff with programs, such as “Be Nice” and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

Maintaining high academic standards for all K-12 students, including ensuring all students are reading at grade level by the end of Grade 3

Expanding opportunities for our high school students to earn credit through multiple pathways, such as Haslett Virtual Academy and Dual Enrollment

We hope you are looking forward to the new school year. Thanks again for your continued support of our school organization. We would not be able to achieve the high level of success in our classrooms that make a difference for our students without your support. I invite you to stop in and see me, at your convenience, to discuss our district goals and the future of Haslett Public Schools.